Teeth whitening is a type of cosmetic dentistry which aims at removing stains and discoloration from your teeth. Discoloration is not removed by just brushing and flossing since they attach to the teeth enamel or dentin. Discoloration removal requires a bleaching agent to remove the deep-set stains.
Standard toothpaste contains inefficient concentrations of whitening compounds, and this is the reason why you can’t whiten your teeth using regular toothpaste. You may not believe it, but the color of your teeth might affect your relationship or profession. Discolored teeth look dirty and make people think you don’t brush your teeth that is why they are turning color.
Before we go over the various ways to whiten your teeth, it is essential to understand how your teeth get discolored. Here are some of the factors that can stain your teeth.
Types of Stains
Understanding what is causing your teeth to stain, will help you take the right whitening procedure. A tooth can be stained either on the surface which is the enamel or from the inside in the dentin.
Intrinsic
It is stains deposited inside teeth on the dentin. It is common in people who used certain medications before the age of eight. Some medicines when consumed during teeth development may blend in with the teeth and affect teeth color.
People who live in areas where the water bodies have an excess of fluorine are affected by intrinsic stains. Excess fluorine has the staining ability on the teeth especially in young children who are developing their teeth.
There is a rare dental condition known as dentinogenesis imperfecta which affects the dentin part of the tooth, and those who are born with this condition are most likely to have an intrinsic stain.
Extrinsic
It is a stain that affects the enamel, and this type of stains are usually caused by food and drinks that have staining properties. Red wine, colas, and coffee are some of the ordinary beverages containing tooth staining agent.
Tobacco use either by chewing or smoking has been proven to cause the enamel to discolor. Extrinsic stains are easy to remove since it is on the outer layer of teeth.
How to Whiten Teeth
Tooth whitening isn’t a one-time procedure, and it is essential to practice good oral hygiene to maintain your teeth color. Over the counter, whitening toothpastes are coming out each day, and they all offer results in a short time.
Many people have been disappointed with the outcome of these OTC whitening products since they have invested in them with no positive outcome. The reason why you are not getting results with OTC whitening toothpaste is that these products don’t have the necessary strength to whiten your teeth.
Professional tooth whitening is the best way to whiten your teeth. A dentist will always analyze your teeth and figure out which type of stain you have for him/her to put you in the right whitening procedure. Sanford Dental Excellence on the subject of professional teeth whitening has said, “The advancements in teeth whitening allow us to deliver remarkable results.” There are two types of professional tooth whitening plans.
Take-home whitening kits
After a whitening procedure at the dentist, the dentist might provide a take-home whitening kit depending on the severity of the stain. A dentist may give the take-home kit if he/she feels you can get a result without having an in-office whitening procedure.
Take-home whitening kits consist of a custom-made tray that has a bleaching agent in them. The trays should be worn each day for a specified period of time as instructed by your dentist. The concentration of bleaching agents used in the trays is lower than the one used in a dental office.
In-office whitening
In-office whitening involves the use of high concentration of bleaching agent that is placed on your teeth by a professional dentist. Most in-office whitening treatment will give result by the end of the procedure and sometimes you need a take-home whitening kit for further treatment.
Benefits of Professionally Whitening Teeth
A professional dentist is the only ones who are allowed to administer teeth whitening bleaches in high concentration. High concentration of bleaching agents is effective on whitening discolored teeth. In-office teeth whitening provide immediate results in most cases. All over the counter whitening products and take-home whitening kits have less than 25% concentration of bleaching agents which makes the whitening process taking longer than in-office whitening procedures.
Safety measures are observed in a dental office during the whitening system. The dentist will protect your gums from exposure of bleaching agents. When bleaching agents come into contact with your gums or any other oral structures that are not meant to be lightened, they become sensitive and painful.
In a dental office, an examination of your teeth is taken before treatment begins. The test provides information that will guide dental practitioners in giving custom-made whitening treatment.
Before and after whitening procedure your dentist will always advise you accordingly on how to maintain the gained white teeth. A take-home maintenance kit might be provided to keep your teeth white for longer.
Professional teeth whitening lasts for longer unlike the OTC whitening products which last for a couple of week and discoloration is experienced again.
Before an in-office whitening procedure begins, the dentist will first clean your teeth and ensure all tartar or plaque is removed. You get professional teeth cleaning service during a whitening plan which keeps your teeth healthy and free from dental diseases.
